Posted March 20, 2026

Sr. Donna (Donna Marie) Franklin, D.C., died on March 11, 2026 at St. Louise House in Albany, N.Y.. She was born on May 15, 1950 in Philadelphia, the eldest of three children born to Louis Franklin, Jr. and Catherine Veronica (Brady) Franklin. Following graduation from Archbishop Wood High School for Girls in Warminster, Pa., in 1968, Sr. Donna spent a number of years in Kentucky with a religious Community. She entered the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent De Paul on May 6, 1975. She obtained her B.S. in Sociology in 1981 from Emmanuel College in Boston, and an MSW from Hunter School of Social Work, N.Y., in 1986. She was awarded a Certificate in Chemical Dependency Counseling from Villanova University, Villanova, Pa., in 1992.

Sr. Donna began her ministry as a Social Worker at Nazareth Child Care Center, Jamaica Plain, Mass. (1976-1981). She then served at St. John of God Assisted Living in Brighton, Mass., for six months (1981), before stepping into a new area of ministry at St. Catherine’s Center for Children in Albany, N.Y. (1981-1983). After obtaining her MSW in Social Work, Sr. Donna served for six months at Nazareth Home in Boston; then, began ministering at the Astor Home for Children in Rhinebeck, N.Y. (1986-1989).

From 1989 to 1995, Sr. served at Immaculate Conception Parish, Ghebre Michael Inn, Philadelphia; then, in 1995, she began 23 years of ministry as Director of Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Ogdensburg, N.Y. (1995-2018). In 2018, Sr. entered the Ministry of Prayer at St. Louise House in Albany, where she, in addition to her prayer ministry, ceaselessly performed kind acts for the Sisters with whom she lived.

A Wake Service was held on Sunday, March 15, and the Mass of Christian Burial took place the following day, with both services held in the DePaul Residence Chapel. Burial followed at St. Agnes Cemetery.

Sr. Donna is survived by one sister, Sr., Ann Cecilia Smith (Timothy Smith), one brother Louis Joseph Franklin (Carol Landes), three nieces: Jessica Franklin Clark, Molly Smith and Leah Smith, one nephew: Michael Franklin; two great nephews: Carter Clark and Frankie Clark, one great niece: Collette Clark, and numerous Brady and Franklin cousins.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to Catholic Charities, Diocese of Ogdensburg, N.Y.